Someone stop me!

I keep buying sock yarn! Here is a picture of sock yarn that I've purchased in the past month.



There's two different colors of Crystal Palace "Panda Wool", Cascade "Sassy Stripes", Lana Grossa "Meilenweit", Regia 4, and Opal "Herbstmelodie" handpainted. I started out looking for a self-striping yarn that was mostly red to make a pair of socks for a friend. She liked the Moda Dea "Sassy Stripes" sock that I hated working on. I suppose I could just suck it up and make the second sock but I really don't care for the yarn.

The first Panda Wool I bought is Lacquer Red. But I foolishly only bought one skein. When I went back to the Little Knits site, I saw they have a $25.00 minumum. Oh, what a shame! So I bought one more skein of the Lacquer Red, two skeins of Red Cinnamon, and a Dale of Norway book. The previous order (when I bought the first Panda Wool) was also when I bought the Opal and the Meilenweit. The Cascade "Sassy Stripes" I purchased at a LYS. That's why it isn't in a shade of red. The Regia was purchased when we were in Lake Placid two weekends ago.

Heaven knows I don't need any more sock yarn. I have enough in my stash to make probably 20 pairs of socks. It's just all so pretty! Now all I have to do is knit it into socks. I'm thinking of making each of my sisters a pair for their birthdays. That would mean one pair in November, two pairs in December (the 8th and 31st) and one pair in June. I might be able to do that.

I'm on the foot of the second Crazy Color sock. The foot always seems to take sooo long to finish. I should have these done in plenty of time to count as my September socks in the Sock A Month KAL 4.

Update on Mom - the catherization went well and the doctor said you could drive a truck through her arteries because they were so clear. Unfortunately, after the procedure, she went into atrial fibrillation. She had to stay overnight in the hospital so they could get her heart rate regulated. She's doing okay now but she has two new medicines to take every day. Thanks for all good thoughts.

We leave Saturday for our annual trip to Cape Cod. The house we rented this year is only 50 yards from Barnstable Harbor. I can't wait to go! There is wi-fi at the house so I'll be able to post pictures while we are there. Both of Scott's brothers and his oldest sister and all their spouses are going. That means 4 couples in the house. Usually we have 3 couples. This may prove interesting.

Knitting beginnings

I think I first learned to knit around age 8 or 9. I'm not completely sure but it must have been somewhere around then. And I'm not sure if my mother or my maternal grandmother taught me but it was one or both of them. But all they taught me was how to knit and purl. I'm not even sure how long I continued to knit after I first learned but I suspect it wasn't long. Fast forward to me after I was married but before I had children. That would put me between the ages of 23 and 26. I remember wanting to make Barbie doll clothes for my husband's nieces but I didn't know how to increase or decrease. Decreasing was a no brainer but I had to find a knitting how-to book and decipher the written directions on knitting into the front and back of a stitch. The great thing about doll clothes is that they are very small so if you goof up, you can rip back and start over without too much angst. I did learn how to K f&b and to decrease. And I made quite a few doll clothes for the nieces. Now those nieces have little girls of their own. And I still have those pattern books from almost 30 years ago.

All this came to mind when I was trying to think of something quick to make for the Palm Sunday charity auction at church last week. I only had a week and wanted something I could work up quickly. I had recently purchased two American School of Needlework pattern books of fashion doll clothes and wanted to try some of the patterns. So I went to A. C. Moore and picked up a couple of inexpensive fashion dolls and made some clothes for them.

The evening gown pattern and the burgundy blouse pattern were in the new pattern books. The burgundy skirt was from one of my old pattern books. The tube top and the two dresses were patterns I found online. And the scarves and the multicolored skirt I made up. The multicolored skirt is crocheted as is the scarf/shawl that matches it. I thought they all turned out well. I bought two canvas bags to hold the dolls and clothes. A little girl at church now has two dolls and several outfits to play with and I had fun making them.

I have good news to report on my sock. As you can see, I managed to find the right place in the yarn pattern to start after undoing the knot. This picture shows the sock a couple rows into the heel flap. In real time, the heel flap is done and it's time to turn the heel now.

I have also been working on a prayer shawl. I'm going to try and start a prayer shawl group at church. I can't remember the name of the shawl pattern I'm using and since I'm at work, I'll have to post it at another time. I am using Plymouth Encore Colours in a gray/lt. blue/white colorway. Updates and photos on this project will be in a future post.

Thank you to everyone who commiserated with me on the knot in the yarn. And I thankfully don't have any unhappy medical news, Amy, but thank you for your concern.

Still doing socks

I finished the 56 stitch, 56 row sock. It wasn't completely done on Saturday. I kitchenered the toe on Sunday morning. I don't know what I did wrong the first time but I had to take the grafting out and do it over again. It worked fine the second time. I've never had a problem with the Kitchener stitch before.




It took me 10 days to make this sock. I stopped at 50 rows on the foot instead of 56 because I thought it would be too long. It fits but I think I will do the entire 56 rows if I make these socks again. I did start the second sock but I'm still on the cuff. I got distracted by this sock.

Here is a close up of the pattern stitch

I'm using Atacama handpainted alpaca that I had in my stash and size US 3 needles. The pattern calls for 2 1/2 repeats of the pattern on the leg but I have done 4 repeats here. The original pattern is for an ankle sock and I'd rather have a longer leg. It's very easy to memorize, though. And the little bit thicker yarn and bigger needles make it work up quite fast. I don't think I'm going to continue the pattern into the foot. I think it would be a little uncomfortable to wear with shoes.

I hope I have enough yarn to finish them. I have 3 skeins of it. I don't feel like I'm running short yet.

Tonight is supposed to be the coldest night of the winter with temperatures of -14 degrees F. The temperatures have been in the teens and low 20's for the past two days. Just bone chilling. Oh, and it's snowing again this morning. What a surprise! On the bright side, it's supposed to be in the 40's by the weekend.

I have the beginning of a cold which is not making me very happy. But with all the nasty stuff that is traveling about, I will take the cough and runny nose and hope it doesn't evolve into something more.

In like a lion?

I took this picture just a few minutes ago. The sun is shining and the temperature is 14 degrees F. It looks like March is coming in like a lamb but it's not. By 5 p.m. tonight we're supposed to get snow, sleet, and freezing rain. So if you don't hear anything from me, you know we lost power at some point. I'm hoping that doesn't happen but it's a possibility.


Amy S - this snow picture is for you!

I think I may have turned into a sock addict! Remember the sock I started Saturday night? Here is where I am on it now.


The heel is turned and the gussets are done! Now I'm doing the foot and will hopefully have it done by Saturday. Then I can start the next one. The last pair of socks that I made in this weight yarn took me 2 years to finish. But I like wearing them so much that I really want to get these done. And I think they will fit me fine.

I am also working on ponchettes for my niece's twin girls. The twins are 6 months old now but I'm making the 18 month size. Knowing how I am with setting projects down and knowing that I have to make 2 of them, I figured the bigger size was a good bet. I'll post pictures and details at another time.

I'm very excited! We made camping reservations at a campground in New Hampshire for August. I did a map quest search and found out that the campground is around 11 miles from Patternworks! Since we camp with Sue and her family, we are both looking forward to visiting Patternworks. I may have to start saving up now!!

And with that news, it's time for me to get ready for work. At least it's almost the weekend!